Hen in the Bed: A funny split-page counting book

There are ten animals in the bed, but the speckled hen wants them all out so that she can go to sleep. One by one, she tells them all to roll over, until each one – lion, cow, cat, sheep, dog, sloth, bear, duck and snake – has rolled out of the bed. 

But – wait! The speckled hen feels very alone, until she calls them all back in to cuddle up tight. That’s better! Now, everyone can say goodnight. 

This charming version of the classic counting song 'Ten in the Bed' features a cast of adorable animals all doing the bidding of the rather bossy hen, who realises right at the last minute that maybe she doesn’t want the bed to herself at all…  

If children or carers know the song, then it’s the ideal opportunity to sing along, and if they don’t, then the fun split pages of the book will guide any reader through the story. 

Guilherme Karsten’s adorable, characterful illustrations are perfect for this picture book for the early years, and Katrina Charman’s simple, accessible text uses repetition, counting and animal names to build vocabulary in an enjoyable and accessible way. 

There’s also a gentle moral to the story in that little ones might sometimes want their independence, but also need support – and that’s OK. Cuddles are always available.